In This Issue…

Hiftorically Speaking…

IN NEEDHAM, SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE!

The Greenwood Oak on Nehoiden Street, which was more than 300 years old when it died in 1908

“Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” — Warren Buffet

Mr. and Mrs. Trees

I suspect that when some of Needham’s oldest houses were built, “Mr. and Mrs.” trees were planted – one on each side of the front door as was the custom in early New England. These trees – most often elms – were planted to celebrate marriages and represented the shelter and protection of the couple’s new home. Almost every day as I drive around rural northern Massachusetts, where I now live, I see one or two ancient farmhouses where either the Mr. or the Mrs. Tree – and sometimes both – are still standing. I don’t remember where I once observed such a stand in Needham…but, if you, Dear Reader, are aware of a site, please notify Gloria Greis at the Needham Historical Society so she can document this historic artifact.

Unlike my former home on Birds Hill in Needham that featured three trees, each about 50 years old, my current home in Northfield is surrounded by more than a dozen trees that are 100 years old or more. In one of the two State Forests located in this historic town, a stand of trees is so old that it is known locally as the “Primeval Forest.” And one birch in this forest is reported to be the largest tree of its kind in the world. (It stands 20 feet in circumference and is nearly 100 feet tall, as documented by the American Forestry Association the Massachusetts Department of Conservation, and the American Museum of Natural History in New York.)

All the old trees that once stood in Needham’s forests and woodlots – and those of most cities and towns surrounding Boston and Dedham – were consumed in the 1800s by the creation of pasture-land and building lots, and the need for lumber to build houses and barns, ships and wagons, and to make furniture and other fixtures, and, of course, for firewood to heat houses and furnaces and to boil water and cook food and make charcoal. So much wood was burned then that I have read reports of clouds of smoke from burning wood not only darkening the sky over a city or town, but also making the air almost impossible to breathe because of the soot and ash it contained.

It is said that, before the Pilgrims arrived, a squirrel could travel from Maine to Boston without ever leaving the treetops. By the 1870s, more than 80% of New England’s forest cover had been cleared. The survivors – now huge and isolated, like the 240-year-old white oak in the Newman School courtyard – were most often field trees kept for shade, or trees that grew along roads or walls where they did not interfere with the plow. Look for them along the town’s oldest roads.

At one time, Needham’s Great Plain Ave. was lined on both sides by a corridor of tall and leafy elm trees that had been planted in the 1840s. But the Ice Storm of November 1921, the Hurricane of September 1938, elm disease, and other scourges brought an end to these ancient sentinels of the street.

The importance of trees in the lives of early New England settlers becomes apparent when we look back into the time of the Revolutionary War, when the pine tree became the New England symbol: the patriots met under a Liberty Tree, the Liberty Pole was made from a tree, the first coin struck in Massachusetts had a pine tree on it (the “pine-tree shilling”), the flag flown at Bunker Hill had a pine tree in its upper corner, and the Continental flag was known as the Pine Tree flag because of its tree symbol.

In my May-June Gazette I suggested that you look for rocks and stone walls the next time you’re traveling through the back roads of New England – so I now suggest you also look for Mr. and Mrs. Trees, or for some of the massive trees that survived the clearances and are now so rare. If you find any, you will be looking at New England’s ancient history.

–Bob Hall, Ye Olde Editor

Memberships are Due!

The Membership Renewal Forms were sent out in September. Membership runs from January 1 to December 31. Dues are $30 Individual and $50 Family. Or renew online on our website.

PRESIDENT’S PODIUM by Susan Welby

As the song says, it is the most wonderful time of the year. Yes, the holidays are a time for reflection, recognition and for giving thanks for so many things in life. We at the Society are thankful for the generosity of so many individuals and businesses that help to make us a thriving organization.

In October we held our Needham’s Walk Through History, which for many was a slosh through history because, unfortunately, we had some rain and drizzle for most of the day. However, we did have a fair number of people brave the elements. We also had a large number of people who stopped by the booth at the NBA Harvest Fair to pick up a map and – since the site signs up were up around Town already – they started their self-guided tours on that clear and warm Saturday afternoon. None of this would have been possible without the generosity of so many people, both businesses and individuals, especially our leading sponsors, The Needham Bank, BID Needham, and North Hill.

Our expanded Heirloom Shoppe has proven to be very successful and a fun place to find some unique offerings, so stop by and visit and see what is new at the society and maybe find that special gift for someone on your holiday list. We also have a large selection of Needham-themed items in our Gift Shop that could prove to be a perfect choice for that hard to please person on your list, so check us out on-line or stop by and visit in person.

I am a firm believer that many hands make light work and there are so many opportunities to help out at the Society. So if you have time and can offer your services in a variety of ways we would love to have you or your interested friends and neighbors join a committee or project. Contact Gloria for details and get your name on the contact list.

Without the generous support of many individuals and businesses the Society would not be able to do a lot of what we do and we truly appreciate these donations. At this time I would like to especially thank again The Needham Bank, the Beth Israel-Deaconess Hospital, Needham, and North Hill for their sponsorship of Needham’s Walk Through History this year. There are many other sponsors that Gloria will mention in her remarks.

Don’t forget to mark your calendar for Saturday, February 1, 2014, because the Society is Going Country once again. This year for our Winter Social we are bringing back by popular demand Catie Offerman and her Country Band. We had a great time last year and hope to make it even better this year. Hope to see you all there.

Best wishes for a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year!

In the EXECUTIVE CHAIR by Gloria Greis

In this season of gratitude, I have so many people that I want to thank for their generosity in the past few months ~

NEEDHAM’S WALK through HISTORY

Mark my words – some day the weather will cooperate! Even so, some brave souls came out and got wet, and others checked the weather forecast and took in some of the Walk on Saturday. Many thanks to the leading sponsors of the event – the Needham Bank, BID Needham, and North Hill, as well as the Hub and Site Sponsors: Alison and Matt Borrelli, Carol Boulris, Marcy Busch, David and Janet Drake, Moe and Elizabeth Handel, Deb and Tom Jacob, Barbara and Scott Jones, Jim Mahoney, Susan Anderson and Joe McCabe, Michael and Dawn Nathanson, Maryruth Perras, Sally and Dick Toran, and the Petrini Corporation.

The HISTORY BOOK GROUP

The Book Group meets monthly, usually on Tuesday mornings. We read History, Historical Fiction, Memoir, and Biography, choosing books from a variety of periods and places. So far, we have read The Whistling Season (Ivan Doig), People of the Book (Geraldine Brooks), and Nella Last’s War (The Diaries of Nella Last). Our next meeting is on January 28th, to read Midnight Ride, Industrial Dawn by Robert Martello. Dr Martello is a professor at Olin College; we are reading and discussing his book in advance of his lecture here in February.

Anyone who likes to read in invited to join us! The schedule and booklist are posted on our website, at www.needhamhistory.org.

Kick Up Yer Heels at the Winter Social!

Join us on Saturday, February 1st at Powers Hall for the Winter Social!

We had such a great time last year, that we’re doing it all again! – live music from Catie Offerman and her band, cold beer, hot food from Blue Ribbon BBQ, great company, auctions, and maybe a few turns around the dance floor.

And bring yer best Stetson, Pardner – we’re having a Best Cowboy Hat Contest!

Tickets are available now! The price is $60 in advance (until January 31), and $65 at the door, if still available. They can be ordered